Grimwade Brothers: Home of Royal Winton Chintz
Posted by: Teapots n More on: May 6, 2012
One of the most successful chintz producing potteries, Grimwade Brothers, began in 1885 at the Winton Pottery, Stock-on-Trent when Leonard Grimwade invited his older brother Sidney to join his manufacture business. Sidney was a potter, however, it appears that Leonard was the enterprising force behind the prosperity of Grimwade Brothers. He was described by business associates and employees alike as a man of vision, energy and generosity.
His company grew quickly receiving patents for a number of innovative products including the Paragon coffee pot with a removable strainer, a Safety Milk Bowl and a Quick-Cooker Bowl. Earthenware for the kitchen, toiletry, hospital, nursery and table was produced by the company. The chintz ware for which the company is well know may have been produced as early as 1913 in more traditional patterns such as Jacobean ware, Hampton chintz and Spode Chintz. These patterns were large and widely spaced.
Today, we generally associate chintz with smaller closely packed patterns. The first chintz of this nature produced by Grimwades was Paisley in 1923. However, the pottery’s first major success with a “modern” chintz pattern was the design Marguerite in 1928. This pattern is said to have been inspired by a design Mrs. Minnie Grimwade was working on a cushion at the time. The success of Marguerite was followed by numerous new chintz patterns during the next 20+ years. Some patterns remained proprietary to Grimwade such as Julia and Welbeck, while others were sold for use by other potteries such as Rose Du Barry.
Although Leonard Grimwade died unexpectedly in 1931, his company florished for many years. By the 1960s, due to a number of factors, the market for chintz had dropped off. The Grimwade company was sold to Howard Potteries in 1964 with the Royal Winton trade name kept intact. Various company buyouts proceeded over the years with the Royal Winton name still remaining. As far as we know, the latest company to trade as Royal Winton is still producing chintz ware. There are 12 patterns available with some of the most popular original chintz designs reintroduced in the 1990s.
Royal Winton chintz continues to be a favorite with collectors. Listed below are some excellent resources available for those who wish to explore the rich history of Royal Winton and English chintz ware.
This brief summary was gleaned from Collecting Royal Winton Chintz by Muriel M. Miller, Francis Joseph Publications 1996 available on Amazon.
Book Resources:
Collecting Royal Winton Chintz by Muriel M. Miller
Royal Winton Porcelain: Ceramics Fit for a King by Eileen Rose Busby
The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Chintz, 3rd Edition by Susan Scott
Chintz Ceramics by Jo Anne Welsh
For your next tea party visit Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of english bone china tea sets, teapots & antique chintz tea cups.
Like this:
The Huntington Library Tea Room and Gardens
Posted by: Teapots n More on: February 21, 2012
Huntington Tea Room
Located near Pasadena, California, the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is a jewel of a destination! It offers a library showcasing rare books such as a Gutenberg Bible and stellar art collections including one of the most comprehensive collections of 18th- & 19th- century British and French art in the United States. It is home to Lawrence’s Pinkie and Gainsborough’s Blue Boy. If that isn’t enough there are 120 acres of botanical gardens which feature more than a dozen specialized gardens including the Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Chinese Garden and a delightful Children’s Garden.
When you include the Rose Garden Tea Room, the Huntington is the perfect setting for a memorable day spent with friends or in solitude. This lovely tea room overlooks the 3 acre Rose Garden and the charming Herb Garden. It offers a traditional English tea. A pot of brewed tea of choice is brought to each guest and a basket of freshly baked scones served at each table. From a central buffet, you may chose from a sumptuous variety of savory finger sandwiches, imported and domestic cheeses, fresh fruits, chilled seasonal salads, and specialty petite desserts to which you can return as often as you like. Refills of tea and scones are limitless as well and served upon request.
Sample Menu, Huntington Tea Room
The Huntington Rose Garden Tea Room is one of our favorite tea rooms and highly recommended!
Important Notes:
For groups of 6 or more, the Huntington requests you please call the Tea Room for information.
Reservations are required and there is a separate general admission fee. We recommend you visit the Huntington website, www.huntington.org, for pricing, hours, reservations, parking, directions and other helpful information.
Contact Information:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
General Information: 626-405-2100
Tea Room Reservations: 626-683-8131
www.huntington.org
For your next tea party visit Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups and English bone china tea sets.
The Wileman Shelley Pottery: A brief history
Posted by: Teapots n More on: February 17, 2012
Shelley CountrySide Chintz
In a nod to all those wonderful & dedicated Shelley collectors, we’re starting off our history series on English Potteries with the Wileman Shelley works.
The Shelley pottery was prolific in producing a large variety of very fine patterns in fine bone china. As the Shelley Pottery, it operated from 1925 to the late 1960s. However, the pottery got its start under Henry Wileman. Around 1860, he was producing earthenware products at the Foley pottery in Staffordshire, England. He started a second pottery for the production of fine china which became the Shelley pottery.
The Shelley name comes from Joseph Shelley who joined the Wileman family as a salesperson. In 1870, Joseph became a partner with James Wileman, Henry’s son, in Wileman & Company. James ran the original earthenware pottery and Joseph focused on the fine china production. Joseph Shelley worked hard to produced the finest quality china and expand foreign export. His son, Percy, joined the business in 1881.
Example of Shelley Backstamp
Percy Shelley brought in top artists and litho designers thereby improving the appearance of the fine china wares. He was so successful that the reputation and demand for Shelley china grew both at home and abroad. Both Wileman and Shelley wares are still avidly collected today and the value of many patterns remains high.
Wileman Foley Demitasse Empire Shape
Upon the death of his father, Percy took full control of the pottery and ran the company for about 50 years. Around 1910, he became involved in a legal battle over the use of “Foley” in his backstamp which was the name of a pottery region. After losing, he renamed his manufacturing works Shelley around 1925. Thus the Shelley brand was born.
As is true of other major English chintz manufacturers, production and creativity was greatest from the 1920′s through the 1950′s with a brief drop in the years surrounding World War II. In 1966, the company was sold to Allied Potteries.
Wileman Shelley collectors have at least three collector’s clubs accessible online with a wealth of information on history, shapes, patterns and backstamps. For detailed histories & further research, please check out the following club sites as well as the reference books listed below and available on Amazon.
Example of Wileman Foley Backstamp
Online Club Sites:
Australasian Shelley Collector’s Club
Book Resources:
Shelley Chintz: Unlocking the Secrets of the Pattern Books by Kelly Moran
Shelley China: Schiffer Book for Collectors by Tina Skinner
Shelley Tea Ware Patterns by Sheryl Burdess
More Shelley China: Schiffer Book for Collectors by Lee Jones & Russ Nicholas
Brown Sugar Shortbread
Posted by: Teapots n More on: September 26, 2011
For your Autumn tea, try this easy & deliciously rich cookie with the taste of buttery caramels. It’s certain to become a year round favorite!
Makes about 3 dozen.
1 cup softened butter (no margarine)
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 ¼ cups flour
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.
2. Gradually stir in flour. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 3 minutes.
3. Pat into a 3/8″ thick rectangle measuring 11″ by 8″ (about the size of a sheet of lined paper).
4. Cut into 2″ by 1″ strips. Place 1″ apart on ungreased baking sheets. Prick with a fork.
5. Bake for 25 minutes or until bottom begins to brown. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container 1-2 weeks or freeze for 3-4 months.
You’re invited to visit Teapots ‘n More and browse our selection of English bone china tea sets, teapots, tea accessories and antique tea cups.
Like this:
Lemonade Tea aka The Arnold Palmer
Posted by: Teapots n More on: July 29, 2011
Lemonade Tea
When suffering through the hot days of Summer, nothing is more refreshing to me than an icy glass of Lemonade Tea, also known as the Arnold Palmer. It’s easy to make and I’ve never known a tea drinker who turned down a glass.
Some serve this tea drink already mixed in a 50/50 proportion like the recipe below. Others bring separate pitchers of lemonade and tea to the table, then let their guests create their own mix according to preference. Either way, it’s a winning drink!
Lemonade Tea Makes 2 quarts.
4 cups prepared lemonade
4 cups prepared strong black tea
Lemon slices or wedges
Fresh mint leaves, optional
1. In a large pitcher, pour tea into lemonade and refrigerate until ready to serve.
2. When serving, pour over ice and garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves.
You’re invited to click Teapots ‘n More and browse our newest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups and English bone china tea sets.
Introducing Karen Bell Watercolors
Posted by: Teapots n More on: July 25, 2011
Tea and Roses by Karen Bell
A few weeks back, we reintroduced the internationally acclaimed art of Marty Bell. We’d now like to introduce nationally acclaimed watercolor artist, Karen Bell.
Karen, a California native, finds unique inspiration in the mystery and beauty nature, flowers in particular. Her natural eye for dramatic contrast in light and shadow combined with the soft translucence of watercolor, make her subjects appear to bloom off the page in bold, vivid hues.
Irresistible by Karen Bell
This exciting artist has honed her skills under many watercolor masters. She credits two classic masters as important sources of inspiration: Claude Monet for his use of light and Georgia O’Keeffe for her dramatic use of color and subject. The influence of these masters is especially effective in her still life subjects.
Her extraordinary paintings are displayed in many fine galleries and personal collections. We recommend to you the dramatic and beautiful art of Karen Bell: a masterful watercolorist!
Morning Light by Karen Bell
Are you interested is purchasing Karen Bell Fine Art? You’re invited to visit Teapots ‘n More and browse our growing selection of Karen Bell fine art prints.
Silver Plate vs. Nickel Plate?
Posted by: Teapots n More on: July 8, 2011
Acorn Demi Spoons
Once or twice a year, I pull out my lovely silver plated demi spoons for a special tea party. I already know how they’re going to look even though I carefully packed them in a silver cloth. Silver tarnishes and that’s just the way it is!
It’s not a terrible thing, but I always say “good thing, I don’t mind the polishing or these babies would be gone!” Polishing the silver is a labor of love and part of the preparation for a special event. However, there are ladies who don’t want the extra fuss. Is there an alternative to silver or silver plate?
There is indeed! Nickel plated tea accessories are showing up in the market place this year. The price is good and the look is so similar to silver plate that you’d have a difficult time telling the difference. So, which is better?
There isn’t really a clear cut upside to either silver or nickel plating. It really comes down to your own preferences.
As previously stated, silver plate and nickel plate have a very similar coloring and brightness. Although, nickel can appear a little brighter. The obvious difference is the tarnishing aspect of silver whereas nickel doesn’t tarnish so no polishing is required. That, in itself, is a big plus for some gals.
Cake & Pastry Tongs
The debate over nickel plate vs. silver plate seems to be most rigorous when discussing musical instruments or jewelry findings. Silver plate is considered more durable for musical instruments such as flutes or horns. In regard to wearing jewelry, one of the more common metal allergies is to nickel.
In my opinion, the durability and allergy questions aren’t particularly important to our discussion. In the average home, demi spoons are usually only used a few times a year: not enough to worry about durability and not enough skin contact to worry about allergies.
So, let’s sum up! The color of silver and nickel plate is very similar. Durability and allergies don’t really matter in regard to demi spoons, tea service or serving pieces. In the end, it comes down to silver tarnish. If you’re fussy about polishing silver, go with the nickel plate. If you don’t mind cleaning the tarnish, go for the silver. Either way, your table is going to be lovely!
Are you planning a tea party? You’re invited to visit Teapots ‘n Moreand browse our latest selection of English bone china teapots, tea sets, tea accessories and antique tea cups.
Two Classic English Tea Cakes
Posted by: Teapots n More on: June 24, 2011
If you’re a regular reader, it comes as no surprise that we are big fans of the English tea tradition and especially tea with sweets. This week’s focus is on a few of our favorite classic English tea cake recipes: Victoria Sandwich Cake and Battenburg Cake. We hope you’ll give them a try and share your results with us!
Victoria Sandwich Cake
Victoria Sandwich Cake, or Victoria Sponge Cake, is said to have been named after Queen Victoria who favored this cake with her afternoon tea. The first known recipe was printed in an 1874 edition of Mrs. Beeton’s Cookery and Household Management.
The cake is made up of two layers of sponge cake with any seedless jam or marmalade and whipped cream in the middle. When cake is sandwiched with jam only, it is called a Jam Cake.
Battenburg Cake
Battenburg Cake has been reported as the wedding cake created for the 1884 marriage of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter to Louis of Battenberg, a German prince. The four squares of its unique checkerboard design represent the four princes of Germany at that time.
The cake is actually quite charming. It consists of two square sections of pink sponge cake put together with two square sections of yellow sponge cake. The sections are “glued” together with apricot jam and wrapped in a layer of marzipan.
Below you’ll find links to classic English recipes and tips for these delicious cakes. We admit the recipes are extra work. However, once you’ve done it, the results are worth the effort!
Tips:
- A kitchen scale will be helpful, since ingredients are often weighed out instead of measured in English recipes.
- Castor sugar is superfine sugar. You can make it by whirling granulated white sugar in your food processor to a finer consistency.
- Golden castor sugar is less refined. You can make an acceptable equivalent by whirling Turbinado, Raw or Demerara sugar in your food processor to a fine consistency. You can also substitute regular granulated white sugar as noted above.
- For Victoria Sandwich Cake, whipped cream or buttercream frosting may be used in the filling. We prefer whipped cream and seedless raspberry or apricot jam.
- A 190 C oven is about 375 degrees F, a 180 C oven is about 350 degrees F, a 170 C oven is about 325 degrees F. A 160 C oven is between 325-300 degrees F. American sponge cake recipes bake at 350 degrees F. We recommend trying both recipes at 350 F the first time, but keep a close eye on it as actual oven temperatures vary.
- A Battenburg Cake Pan is helpful when making this cake. They appear to be available only from England. See an Amazon UK listing for this product by clicking on the above highlighted link.
Victoria Sandwich Cake Recipe:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1997/classic-victoria-sandwich
Battenburg Cake Recipe:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1120657/battenberg-cake
Are you planning a tea party? You’re invited to visit Teapots ‘n More and browse our latest selection of bone china teapots, tea accessories, tea cups, tea miniatures and english bone china tea sets.
Rediscovering Marty Bell
Posted by: Teapots n More on: June 17, 2011
Three Pots of Daisies
As a child, three small paintings were artistically displayed in our kitchen. They were floral subjects on pieces of distressed wood: three pots of white daisies, a yellow rose tree and a close up of yellow daisies. These art pieces were special to my mom because they had been painted by a friend.
Years later as a new bride, my husband and I came upon an art display at a local mall. Romantic English cottages and victorian ladies were showcased. The flowers in one particular print caught my eye. They reminded me of those kitchen paintings and, feeling nostalgic, we went to find the artist. I was surprised to find she was my mother’s friend, but now more accomplished and growing in popularity. She remembered me, of course, and said she wanted to paint my face. I demured thinking she was just being kind. It was 1982 and this was the day we purchased our first Marty Bell.
The Gamekeepers Cottage
Marty Bell found her love for art early in life, but she found her high school art teachers didn’t offer the support and direction she wanted. In her words, “Our teachers would ask us to draw still lifes, like a broken tricycle or a baseball bat. These have their place, but who would want them on their wall forever? I would work with that for awhile and then I would start playing on my own with the paints. This is where I would get into trouble.”
After marrying and starting a family, she picked up art classes again. Her first teacher really encouraged individual creativity and eventually Marty started her own art school. In 1974, after traveling throughout England, Marty painted a few English scenes which promptly sold. From that point on, her life was not the same. Many paintings were selling even before she could complete them and what began as a hobby, had become a thriving art business. Her creations were sought by collectors, decorators and design firms. She gained international popularity and is considered the premiere painter of the English countryside.
Shefield Roses
With her passion for beauty, color and style, Marty Bell was a prolific and influential artist. Her work has been internationally collected and she enjoyed the respect of both her peers and fine art collectors. In her lifetime, Marty painted more than 3,000 oil paintings ranging from old English cottages and California landscapes to impressionistic pieces and colorful still lifes.
Her artistic vision continues to appeal to fine art collectors evoking a blend of warmth & nostalgia as attractive today as it was 35+ years ago. Those original three small paintings still hang, artistically displayed, in my mother’s kitchen and I still love my own Marty Bell prints.
Now, we invite you to rediscover the art of Marty Bell.
Miss Elizabeth's Door
Do you have a faded Marty Bell Print?
You may have Marty Bell canvas prints that have faded over time. For the early prints, this is not uncommon. Bell Fine Art has a service available for the restoration of faded prints. Please contact us at customerservice@teapotsnmore.com for more information.
Are you interested is purchasing Marty Bell Fine Art? You’re invited to visit Teapots ‘n More and browse our growing selection of Marty Bell fine art prints.
Tea Bag Folding
Posted by: Teapots n More on: June 9, 2011
Tea Bag Medallion, picture by Paperfacets
For our “crafty” friends, we came across a charming idea using tea bag papers. It’s called Tea Bag Folding: a combination of origami type folds with tea bag papers to create lovely medallions and rosettes. One happy caution: Tea Bag Folding is a whole world unto itself!
We can see many applications for these artistic creations such as decorations for thank you cards, invitations or book marks. How about using tea bag medallions as decorations for your tea table or maybe have a lesson in tea bag folding as an ice breaker for your tea party? You could even create a tea bag folding starter kit as a home made hostess gift!
Bookmark Ideas, picture by Paperfacets
We’ve included a few trusted links to some very well done articles on Tea Bag Folding with lots of examples, history, beginner lessons, patterns, paper purchasing tips and other resources. We hope you enjoy our discovery and will share some of your creations and ideas with us!
Tea Bag Folding and Pattern Instructions
Websites for the Craft of Tea Bag Folding
Tea Bag Folding Butterfly Card
Tea Bag Folding for Children and Beginners
Are you planning a tea party? You’re invited to visit Teapots ‘n More and browse our latest selection of teapots, tea accessories, teacups, tea miniatures and elegant tea sets.
Visit Teapots ‘n More.com
VISITOR COMMENTS